Rooftop carrier for vehicle

Abstract

A rooftop rack for carrying bicycles, the rack comprising a base which is mounted on the vehicle roof, a pivotable arm connected to the base, the arm being moveable between a first upright storage position and a second outboard position, a first platform for carrying at least one bicycle, a winch mounted on the base, a cable extending from the winch to a distal end of the pivotable arm and to the first platform, the arrangement being such that when the pivotable arm is in the storage position, the platform is retained by the distal end of the pivotable arm while when the pivotable arm is in the second outboard position, the first platform can be released from the pivotable arm. The rack permits loading of the bicycles at ground level from where they can be moved by means of the winch to the stored position on the roof of the vehicle.

We claim:  
     
       1. A rooftop tack for carrying an object on a vehicle, said rooftop rack comprising: 
       a base mountable on a vehicle roof;  
       a pivotable arm having a first end pivotably connected to said base, said pivotable arm being moveable between a first storage position and a second outboard position;  
       a first platform; having means for returning two bicycles thereon;  
       a winch mounted on said base;  
       a cable extending from said winch to a distal end of said pivotable arm and then to said first platform; and  
       the arrangement being such that when said pivotable arm is in said first storage position, said first platform is retained by said distal end of said pivotable arm while when said pivotable arm is in said second outboard position, said first platform can be released from said pivotable arm.  
     
     
       2. The rack of  claim 1  wherein said winch is an electrically driven winch. 
     
     
       3. The rack of  claim 1  further including means for securing said pivotable arm in an upright position, said means comprising a ring member designed to be secured to said base. 
     
     
       4. The rooftop racks of  claim 1  wherein said base comprises first and second rack support bars extending transversely on the vehicle roof. 
     
     
       5. The rack of  claim 1  wherein said pivotable arm is connected to a first side of said base, and further including a second pivotable arm connected to a second side of said base, a second platform for carrying a second object, said second platform being releasably retained by a second end of said second arm. 
     
     
       6. The rooftop rack of  claim 5  wherein said second platform has means for retaining first and second bicycles thereon. 
     
     
       7. The rack of  claim 5  further including a locking strap extending between said first and second pivotable arms when said first and second pivotable arms are in an upright position. 
     
     
       8. The rack of  claim 5  wherein said first platform comprises first and second longitudinally extending members, said first longitudinally extending member having first and second cradles formed at opposed ends thereof, said second longitudinally extending member having first and second cradles at opposed ends thereof, each of said cradles being designed to receive a wheel of a bicycle. 
     
     
       9. The rack of  claim 8  further including tie down straps for retaining first and second bicycles on said platform. 
     
     
       10. A rooftop rack for carrying bicycles on a vehicle, said rooftop rack comprising: 
       a base mountable on a vehicle roof;  
       a pivotable arm having a first end pivotably connected to said base, said pivotable arm being moveable between a first storage position wherein said arm is substantially upright, and a second outboard position wherein a distal end of said arm extends outwardly from said vehicle;  
       a first platform having means for retaining at least one bicycle thereon;  
       a winch mounted on said base;  
       a cable extending from said winch to said distal end of said pivotable arm and to said first platform; and  
       the arrangement being such than when said pivotable arm is in said first upright storage position, said first platform is retained by said distal of said pivotable arm, the center gravity of said platform being located above a portion of said vehicle, while when said pivotable arm is in said second outboard position, said first platform can be released from said pivotable arm.  
     
     
       11. A rooftop rack for parrying bicycles on a vehicle, said rooftop rack comprising: 
       a base mountable on a vehicle roof;  
       a pivotable arm having a first end pivotably connected to said base, said pivotable arm being moveable between a first storage position wherein said arm is substantially upright, and a second outboard position wherein a distal end of said arm extends outwardly from said vehicle;  
       a first platform having means for retaining at least one bicycle thereon;  
       a winch mounted on said base;  
       a cable extending from said winch to said distal end of said pivotable arm and to said first platform;  
       said distal end of said pivotable arm having a platform receiving element such that when said platform is lifted from an second outboard position, said platform will be received and held by said platform receiving element of said pivotable arm; and  
       the arrangement being such than when said pivotable arm is in said first upright storage position, said first platform is retained by said platform receiving element of said pivotable arm, the center of gravity of said first platform being located above a portion of said vehicle, while when said pivotable arm is in said second outboard position, said first platform can be released from said pivotable arm.